Isaiah 2:1-5 ~ the Mountain of the House of the Lord

Isaiah 2:1-5

The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

 It shall come to pass in the latter days

    that the mountain of the House of the Lord

shall be established as the highest of the mountains

    And shall be lifted up above the hills;

and all the nations shall flow to it,

  and many peoples shall come, 

and say:

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,

    to the House of the God of Jacob,

that He may teach us his ways

    and that we may walk in His paths.”

For out of Zion shall go forth the law,

    and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

4 He shall judge between the nations,

    and shall decide disputes for many peoples;

and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,

    and their spears into pruning hooks;

nation shall not lift up sword against nation,

    neither shall they learn war anymore.

5 O House of Jacob,

    come, let us walk

    in the Light of the Lord.

We've been on a journey, we mostly never anticipated, since March 2020's Pandemic.  The Pandemic brought our quiet times to say 2/3rd's of us feel we have more clarity on being the people we want to be.  Learning Strength.

The changes brought from seeing strangers crying in fright at Starbucks. The lack of crowds returning with the same ease. The deep 1/3 concern Americans say they really have in 2022. 

Not the type of Journey unknown for the first Christmas in Bethlehem. Carrying this eventually to Jerusalem, then Rome and the world. 

We know about 1/3 of America traveled home for Thanksgiving. When Isaiah saw this coming journey coming, Isaiah did not have the complete understanding Jesus Christ, before Abraham, understood. Jesus is the Word of God manifest, to Live, Move and Have His Being with our Father.  

We can understand a great voyage, a vacation, a pilgrimage, a bucket list.  The awe of anticipation of a Festival! Way, Truth and Life!  Isaiah would well understand the Ascents all understood in the Anticipation of regular life, down the road on the Journey and suddenly in God's Holy Temple.

When Isaiah saw this coming journey coming, Isaiah did not have the complete understanding Jesus Christ, before Abraham, understood.

 Jesus is the Word of God manifest, to Live, Move 

and Have His Being with our Father.  

This is the beginning of finding the Roman Road connecting Bethlehem to Jerusalem. Worked on by Israeli High School students with great anticipation. Finding artifacts going back to the time of Jesus Christ walking this road. 

The road, 2,000 years ago, a familiar life would add in new adventures and new memories, to be elevated by God moving His people in Worship and Beauty. Not just the local room, usually without a window. This was built as a Temple with a path to eternity with God. To hear not just one or two instruments, to gather with 2 million people to hear Music and Worship. Beauty far beyond the usual. To see the wisdom of the ages produce awe in the Lord. 

The Holy Spirit told Isaiah this would be uphill.

A planned journey uphill.

Ahhh, the Songs of Ascent!

We know the Psalms!

Consider the Dreams of Christmas for Children. The dreams of adults. The hope

for a Good Christmas. Jesus led the Disciples, the soldiers, the Emperors of the Empire, the Governor Festus, adopted by Emperor Claudius and raised from his father's slavery, then King Agrippa and his wife Bernice, the soldiers in Judea for Good Friday, and Jesus knew what was said about all Roman roads lead to Italy...

Many Italian Villages are on hills and have roads of ascent. Christmas is enchanting! As the Pandemic knew of Italian travel.

One of the aspects, of Italian living, real living, 

is something the English, the French, Italians and Spaniards know:

Small, small refrigerators. Pots to grow produce. Potted Tomatoes, peppers and vegetables. Planning in vast quantities is limited because the joy of strolling nearby to have what you need in hand to go home. Not fear of running out, ease of planning and replenishment. Italian families travel to America to find Christmas decorations because family Italian Christmas is simple. The decorations they have frequently are family tradition. The few pieces are used again and again.

We all have something in common. We all probably will face this for Christmas:

The fact of Christmas, it occurs, and is written to be celebrated by going uphill. And usually a day filled with things to do. And as we climb the ladder and smile with the memories, we know we are not only juggling our time, we are juggling needs and finances. Relationship and reward. Worthy and ordinary. Adult decisions while holding magical dreams and worthy love.

When Isaiah saw this coming journey coming, Isaiah did not have the complete understanding Jesus Christ, before Abraham, understood. Jesus is the Word of God manifest, to Live, Move and Have His Being with our Father.  

Samaria! 

Probably not the pilgrimage the Disciples put on their Bucket List. 

Not exactly the ahhhh of Antioch. 

Nor the rival of the Italian Riviera!

Although Caesarea might have been a little racier! 

Yet, alas, only to the Remnant who had held up Jerusalem after Jeremiah predicted the fall of the Temple. The Samaritan ninnies without proper Babylonian lineage credentials, later DNA centuries confirmed. Merely the line of the king, Herod.

Oh have you been told, the greatest Christmas gift of all:  

 The meaning of the heart is the loving hearts held by Jesus. Forever.

The Gift of Christmas

The Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand, Today.

Romans 10:9-10

Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 

For with the heart one believes and is justified, 

and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Abba, Father

Cover us this day in Your Name. The Highest of All Names and we are Blessed.

We will be still and know You are God the Almighty of All.

Cover us in Jesus Christ and we have a Hope and Future. 

We Believe and trust in You.

Cover those we Love and we Live in Love. 

We see glimpses of Heaven.

Cover us in Jesus and we lift our cares to You.

Cover us in Jesus and we are inspired to Live and Love more.

Cover us in Jesus and we tell the truth with mercy.

Cover us in Jesus and we brush off what would cling to us 

and find Joy in Pleasing You.

Cover us in Jesus 

and we want All to Love Jesus.

Cover us in Jesus 

and we Believe Father God will bring the world to salvation 

in Jesus Christ.

Cover us in Jesus 

and we know Tomorrow and Today are in Your Hands.

Cover us in Jesus

 and we find Joy knowing our prayers join the Saints covering the world 

in Prayers for more

of Your Heaven on earth.

Cover us in Jesus and we Believe the Nation Trusting in You 

will be Blessed.

Always pray daily:

Dwell in us, please, Father.

Dwell in those we Love.

Salvation is in Jesus Christ, we ask.

Help us to Seek You First

And we will finish well in Jesus Christ.

Cover us in Jesus 

and we Believe the days to come for ourselves 

and our children and unborn children will live

in Goodness and Steadfast Love 

in the New Covenant of Jesus.

Cover us in Jesus 

and we Believe You are the God of the Impossible.

We ask the Oceans to give moisture to the skies

and rain to pour over the thirsty and parched 

places of Your Good Creation,

Cover us in Your Word, Jesus Christ, 

God's Word made Manifest.

We thank You to answer our prayers. 

The miracles we know.
We ask to Live in Love, Joy and Peace seeking and 

finding Your Kingdom in Heaven 

and on earth in Jesus Christ.

Pray for me in day 5 of Covid.

Doing ok, no fever, Optimism of Healing Fast!

Grateful for the 3 Vaccinations, lessening the effects!

Taking Aspirin!

Blessed be Father God for bringing us Jesus. 

Amen and Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Jesus

Isaiah 54:10 ~ My Faithful Love

 

Welcome to Advent - Prepare to Receive Jesus, The Gift of God!

Leftovers!!!!

Ok, sure, few people are going to vote Leftovers as a Christmas Memory Favorite. Yet the most delicious leftovers are two ingredients added together later. Like Good Turkey Tortilla Soup or Pecan Pie and Rice Pudding, crust and all.

When asking a Thanksgiving Table what they are most grateful for, and they have been through puberty in the last ten to 20 years, you might see a bunch of attitude or ennui. There is Poll One when this has been asked several years.  And Poll Two asks the same table, what is your Favorite Christmas Memory? You will receive entirely different hearts.  When the goal is, was and will be... favored as displaying loving and open hearts.  

Oh, the varieties of Polls, even when discussing North Pole times. You are probably expecting Scripture. We will!

Saint Francis of Assisi said, if our preaching isn't walking, then we are not preaching! Which was re translated as, "Declare the Scriptures, and if you must, use words !"

My Favorite Christmas Memory!

In the late 1970s, my family lived in Emporium, Cameron County, Pennsylvania. My father asked me to walk with him to Emmanuel Episcopal Church for the Christmas Midnight Service. Emporium had huge Maple trees which were farmed for the Maple Syrup. And the weather was exactly as the images shows. We walked and held hands and talked about people and places Daddy had known most of his life. Daddy was always entertaining and sincere. This was one of my most special memories. 

The town was lighted so beautifully. This time with my father is one of my finest memories.

I was told we had been seen walking to Christmas Eve. People were very pleased. Mentioning people just usually drove in cars on Christmas Eve. I was surprised, and I asked, why were we noticed? 

We had discovered a Christmas tradition rarely spoken of. A sort of secret tradition. Emporium town dwellers keep the lights on to almost 2 a.m. early Christmas morning. People were so excited to speak of this! Smiles lighted up faces. I asked if this was for Christmas? Indeed, this was for "Christmas," putting Jesus as the first activity and encouraging people to go to the Midnight Eve Church Celebration. Jesus at the very first stroke of the clock on Christmas, His Birthday. A very, very fine way for the town  Celebrating Christmas. And the joy on the faces. They told me we looked that joyful, too.

We can all picture something like this in Heaven. Jesus' Birthday. Lights and hearts open to Celebrate The Lord.

What would you pick !!!

Everyone remembers their own Christmas Tree. The art to Celebrate the Birth of Christ. A spire pointing to Heaven. Gifts and Loved Ones.   Let's jog some Christmas Memories.

If you go back past, just past Norman Rockwell and John Falter paintings, Christmas was simple and the trees more sparse. Electric lights, maybe. Pastels were new at Christmas! Pink was really Hollywood glam!

This tree was a style for generations. Uniform of Steadfast Christmas!!! Go Forth Orderly to Express the Merriment of Christmas Forever and Ever, Alleluia!!!

The Thrill of Victory and the Agony of Tinsel Defeat! Tinsel had paper burns, Really.

America Loved FDR and Tinsel too

Style? People complain about 1990s music, but we all dressed in black, black, black and the Christmas Trees were white, white, white!!!

George Silver Spoon was Very Iconic!!!

And

Made White Loooook GOOD.

1970s we had our own Green Party. Granola was in. 

John Denver, Baby. 

Did you realize if you tell children today

about stringing Popcorn and cranberries, 

they think this is hilarious, we put food on the tree???

I had to remember why we did this!

To feed the birds, they loved this. And they DID! 

White Continues to be a Christmas Favorite with Our Father!

And Open Doors for ALL Like the Gates of Heaven

for Education, Choices,

Medical Services,

Middle East Peace,

Jobs for ALL

What we learn through the years,

we take all those ornaments

and we start putting them on the tree

until you have Beauty

Joy

Memories

Hope

Love

making

Christmas

The All IN Style!

 

The Everyone All in Style goes back to the early 1940s, when everyone used the outdoor Christmas Lights on the indoor tree. Why? Because they didn't have Microwave ovens yet. You won't find good photos of this. Because no one could take great at night photos of the Lassie Style ALL in Christmas Tree.  Mostly with the Tinsel!  And later with Popcorn strings. Oh, the smell of Pine and Popcorn!

We did say we would look at Scripture. And we usually do!

You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen

Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen

But do you recall

The most wonderful Christmas Scripture of all!

For every time and season, the Lord has not forgotten us. 

He has been with us all.

Knowing our Hearts, 

adoring those who know their favorite Christmas Memory 

He

has given us. 

 Isaiah 54:10

The mountains may shift, and the hills may be shaken, 

but My faithful love won’t shift from you, 

and My covenant of peace won’t be shaken, 

says the Lord, the One who pities you.

Psalm 139

O Lord, you have searched me and known me!

 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;

    you discern my thoughts from afar.

 You search out my path and my lying down

    and are acquainted with all my ways.

 Even before a word is on my tongue,

    behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.

 You hem me in, behind and before,

    and lay Your hand upon me.

 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

    it is high; I cannot attain it.

 Where shall I go from your Spirit?

    Or where shall I flee from your presence?

 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!

Romans 10:9-10

Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord 

and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, 

you will be saved. 

For with the heart one believes and is justified, 

and with the mouth one confesses 

and is saved.

Psalm 136

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,

    for His steadfast love endures forever.

2 Give thanks to the God of gods,

    for His steadfast love endures forever.

3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords,

    for His steadfast love endures forever;

4 to Him who alone does great wonders,

    for His steadfast love endures forever;

5 to Him who by understanding made the heavens,

    for His steadfast love endures forever;

6 to Him who spread out the earth above the waters,

    for His steadfast love endures forever;

7 to Him who made the great lights,

    for His steadfast love endures forever;

8 the sun to rule over the day,

    for His steadfast love endures forever;

9 the moon and stars to rule over the night,

    for His steadfast love endures forever

Luke 1

To give 

knowledge of salvation 

to His people

    in the forgiveness of their sins,

Because of the tender mercy 

of our God,

    whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high

to give Light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,

    to guide our feet 

into 

the way of peace. 

Amen and Amen and Amen and Amen

Jesus Christ the Lord!

And memories yet to make...

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Jesus

Psalm 128 ~ all the days of your life

Psalm 128

Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,

    who walks in his ways!

2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;

    you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.

3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine

    within your house;

your children will be like olive shoots

    around your table.

4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed

    who fears the Lord.

5 The Lord bless you from Zion!

    May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem

    all the days of your life!

6 May you see your children's children!

    Peace be upon Israel!

We had an incredibly traveled Thanksgiving as a nation. If you add up all the wildly different polls, about 1/3 of Americans, are traveling to Thanksgiving and travel numbers are up again for Christmas.

Someone is doing Something Right.

Did The Rockwell era know stress and business? 

You betcha. 

Train images by John Phillip Falter, 1910-1982

Commute by George Hughes 

Saturday Evening Post, John Falter Archives, Diner in full swing  

When we think about all the agendas, all the anger, all the turmoil, we find News is being turned off. Permanently.   So, what images are we choosing for our homes?  In 1980, eBay had a painting sell for $190,000. The art world took notice. The artist in advanced age, 2 years before he died, John Phillip Falter saw interest in his art and in his Saturday Evening Posts revive!

Now, these are the paintings being bought for their hope. John Falter paintings below.

Combine this with Thanksgiving and Christmas travel. Many people said the Pandemic lockdown gave them a better idea how to be the people they admire. These family paintings are about love, endurance, forgiveness, hope and joy.

Given the similarity to Norman Rockwell, you'd have to say most of the people in the nesting era in life are deciding what is important. In ways of Goodness and Endurance. 

2 Corinthians 4:18 

We look not to the things that are seen 

but to the things that are unseen. 

For the things that are seen are transient, 

but the things that are unseen are eternal.

John 13:34

A new command I give you: Love one another.

 As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

Malachi 4:5, 6a

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before 

the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD.

 And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, 

and the hearts of the children 

to their fathers.

Romans 5:9

Since, therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God.

Romans 10:9-10

Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 

For with the heart one believes and is justified, 

and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Abba, Father

Cover us this day in Your Name. The Highest of All Names and we are Blessed.

We will be still and know You are God the Almighty of All.

Cover us in Jesus Christ and we have a Hope and Future. 

We Believe and trust in You.

Cover those we Love and we Live in Love. 

We see glimpses of Heaven.

Cover us in Jesus and we lift our cares to You.

Cover us in Jesus and we are inspired to Live and Love more.

Cover us in Jesus and we tell the truth with mercy.

Cover us in Jesus and we brush off what would cling to us 

and find Joy in Pleasing You.

Cover us in Jesus 

and we want All to Love Jesus.

Cover us in Jesus 

and we Believe Father God will bring the world to salvation 

in Jesus Christ.

Cover us in Jesus 

and we know Tomorrow and Today are in Your Hands.

Cover us in Jesus

 and we find Joy knowing our prayers join the Saints covering the world 

in Prayers for more

of Your Heaven on earth.

Cover us in Jesus and we Believe the Nation Trusting in You 

will be Blessed.

Always pray daily:

Dwell in us, please, Father.

Dwell in those we Love.

Salvation is in Jesus Christ, we ask.

Help us to Seek You First

And we will finish well in Jesus Christ.

Cover us in Jesus 

and we Believe the days to come for ourselves a

nd our children and unborn children will live

in Goodness and Steadfast Love 

in the New Covenant of Jesus.

Cover us in Jesus 

and we Believe You are the God of the Impossible.

We ask the Oceans to give moisture to the skies

and rain to pour over the thirsty and parched 

places of Your Good Creation,

Cover us in Your Word, Jesus Christ, 

God's Word made Manifest.

We thank You to answer our prayers. 

The miracles we know.
We ask to Live in Love, Joy and Peace seeking and 

finding Your Kingdom in Heaven 

and on earth in Jesus Christ.

Pray for me in day 3 of Covid.

Doing ok, ribs start to hurt.

Grateful for the 3 Vaccinations, lessening the effects!

Blessed be Father God for bringing us Jesus. 

Amen and Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Jesus